Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/536

 5 i6 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [ 45- February. make it appear as if in what was to follow her own life had been aimed at as well as her husband's. Wednes- day, the 5th, she slept there, and Friday, the 7th, and then her penance was almost over, for on Saturday the thing was to have been done. Among the wild youths who followed Both well's fortunes three were found who consented to be the in- struments young Hay the Laird of Tallo, Hepburn of Bolton, and the Laird of Ormeston gentlemen retainers of Bothwell's house, and ready for any desperate ad- venture. 1 Delay only created a risk of discovery, and the Earl on Friday arranged his plans for the night ensuing. 2 It seems however that at the last moment there was an impression either that the powder might fail or that Darnley could be more conveniently killed in a scuffle with an appearance of accident. Lord Robert Stuart, Abbot of St Cross, one of James the Fifth's wild brood of children whom the church had provided with land and title, had shared in past times in the King's riots, and retaining some regard for :dm had warned the poor creature to be on his guard. Darnley, making love to destruction, told the Queen ; and Stuart, know- 1 Hepburn on his trial said tbat when Bothwell first proposed the murder to him, ' he answered it was an evil purpose, but because he was servant to his Lordship he would do as the rest.' So also said Hay and Ormeston. Paris, according to his own story, was alike afraid to refuse >and to consent. Bothwell told him the lords were all agreed. He asked what Murray said. ' Murray, Mur- ray ! ' said the Earl, ' il ne se veult n'ayder ni nuyre, mais c'est tout ung.' ' Monsieur,' Paris replied, ' il est sage.' Examination of Paris : PiTCAIRN. 2 Examination of Hay of Tallo : ANDERSON.